Stifel Nicolaus Raises Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA) Price Target to $163.00

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA) had its price objective lifted by Stifel Nicolaus from $150.00 to $163.00 in a research report sent to investors on Monday morning, Benzinga reports. Stifel Nicolaus currently has a buy rating on the game software company’s stock.

Several other brokerages have also recently issued reports on EA. Roth Mkm reduced their target price on shares of Electronic Arts from $140.00 to $135.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 1st. Wedbush reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $162.00 price objective on shares of Electronic Arts in a report on Wednesday, May 8th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of Electronic Arts from $160.00 to $154.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 9th. Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on shares of Electronic Arts from $160.00 to $150.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 8th. Finally, Benchmark reissued a buy rating and set a $153.00 target price on shares of Electronic Arts in a research note on Thursday, April 18th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $147.50.

Electronic Arts Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:EA opened at $140.57 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $37.35 billion, a PE ratio of 30.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 0.80. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $132.19 and its 200-day simple moving average is $134.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a current ratio of 1.37. Electronic Arts has a one year low of $117.47 and a one year high of $144.53.

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 7th. The game software company reported $0.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.09 by ($0.17). The business had revenue of $1.67 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.78 billion. Electronic Arts had a net margin of 16.83% and a return on equity of 18.81%. As a group, equities analysts predict that Electronic Arts will post 5.71 EPS for the current year.

Electronic Arts Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 29th were issued a $0.19 dividend. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.54%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 29th. Electronic Arts’s payout ratio is 16.24%.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Vijayanthimala Singh sold 800 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.64, for a total value of $101,312.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 26,283 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,328,479.12. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Electronic Arts news, CEO Andrew Wilson sold 2,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.19, for a total transaction of $317,975.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,430 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,980,061.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Vijayanthimala Singh sold 800 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.64, for a total transaction of $101,312.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 26,283 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,328,479.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 21,039 shares of company stock worth $2,763,319. Corporate insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Electronic Arts

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of EA. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV lifted its position in Electronic Arts by 23.9% during the third quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 22,867 shares of the game software company’s stock valued at $2,753,000 after buying an additional 4,411 shares in the last quarter. Eaton Financial Holdings Company LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Electronic Arts during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $1,259,000. Value Partners Investments Inc. raised its stake in shares of Electronic Arts by 33.5% during the fourth quarter. Value Partners Investments Inc. now owns 429,536 shares of the game software company’s stock valued at $53,761,000 after purchasing an additional 107,709 shares during the period. Teacher Retirement System of Texas raised its stake in shares of Electronic Arts by 6.1% during the fourth quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 181,757 shares of the game software company’s stock valued at $24,866,000 after purchasing an additional 10,405 shares during the period. Finally, Scotia Capital Inc. raised its stake in shares of Electronic Arts by 99.4% during the fourth quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. now owns 17,338 shares of the game software company’s stock valued at $2,372,000 after purchasing an additional 8,644 shares during the period. 90.23% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Electronic Arts Company Profile

Electronic Arts Inc develops, markets, publishes, and distributes games, content, and services for game consoles, PCs, mobile phones, and tablets worldwide. It develops and publishes games and services across various genres, such as sports, racing, first-person shooter, action, role-playing, and simulation primarily under the Battlefield, The Sims, Apex Legends, Need for Speed, and license games from others, including FIFA, Madden NFL, UFC, and Star Wars brands.